the Valuable 500’s Post

When senior executives authentically commit to disability inclusion, it sets the tone for the entire organisation. In my latest article for Forbes, I explore how inclusive leadership can lead to transformative change in the business world. It's time for all of us to look inward and ask: are we truly leading with inclusion? https://lnkd.in/en5SmCKp

Earlier this week I was invited to be a panel member at a Women in HealthTech New Zealand breakfast on inclusion. Some of the points covered were *Inclusion makes business sense. Workplaces that actively practise inclusion have increased productivity, better staff retention and this leads to better financial gain. *Inclusion requires active commitment at all levels. This means empathic leaders, who actively commit to putting resource and accountability in to inclusive practice. *People need to see themselves in leadership. Leaders being open about their own intersectionality (our multiple identities) helps. *Commitment has to be at all levels. We need to challenge unconscious bias at all levels. The behaviour you walk past is the behaviour you accept. I was thrilled to come across this great Forbes article today that highlights these same points.

>“I think far too often, leaders don’t ask the question, ‘How do you work best?’” said Rachel Lowenstein, global head of innovation inclusion at Mindshare, later adding that “the biggest barrier right now is creating new ways of working,” whether in individual working styles, hiring practices, or leadership training. “There needs to be those broad industry shifts to be able to get more disabled talent into the pipeline.” #DisabilityInclusion #RepresentationMatters #disability #DisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth #advertising #diversity #DisabledEmployees #inclusion #EmployeeExperience #InvisibleDisabilities

Calling all CEOs, Chairs and business leaders: Are you a 'Head & Heart' leader? Are you really wanting to turn your business from doing good to doing well? Here's 2 tips you can easily follow: Tip #1 - watch this inspiring video of Caroline Casey, founder of the Valuable 500 talking to Carmine Di Sibio, Group CEO/Chairman of EY about the culture of #DiversityAndInclusion within EY (11:47 mins). Carmine has been at EY for over 35 years, and puts it down to the company culture which is all about diversity and inclusion across the 400,000 people who work there. Tip #2 - Put #Inclusion in your company values! Be explicit about it so everyone (and we mean EVERYONE) in your organisation knows about it and can talk about it openly. https://lnkd.in/eMUTbcDF Debra Ruh Kamran Mallick Mike Adams Graeme K Whippy MBE Joanne Dewar Kathryn Townsend Alex Manners Kris Foster Dan Harris FRSA Michael Fembek Celia Chartres-Aris (née Hensman) Jamie Shields Laura Mathias Jenny Lay-Flurrie Shamina Singh Atif Choudhury Lord Holmes Tom Pursglove MP

Caroline has been an inspiring leader in the community. Being a 'Head & Heart' leader is about balancing business acumen and social conscience. While the 'head' guides strategic and financial decisions to ensure the business excels, the 'heart' injects empathy, ethics, and a deep sense of social responsibility into the business model. I aspire to embody both these qualities by not viewing social good as a separate entity from business performance; instead, I see it as integral to long-term success. We at Ruh Global IMPACT and Billion Strong often aim to operate on the principle of the Triple Bottom Line: people, planet, and profit. Acknowledging that a business operates within a community and an ecosystem, not in a vacuum, can lead to a more sustainable and inclusive business model.

How can we wholeheartedly embrace inclusion? While it would be ideal for inclusivity to be our second nature, we must recognize that we do not live in a perfect world. To foster a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), we need to actively instill these values within our organizations. In this blog, I have delved into the significance of making DEI a top priority and outlined steps to achieve it- https://lnkd.in/dURynDZF Additionally, I'm currently offering a 30-minute complimentary consultation to provide your organization with tailored, actionable insights to address your unique needs promptly. Book a time slot here and let's catch up: https://lnkd.in/dJAtEwh9 #WeAreBillionStrong #Inclusivity #InclusionMatters #DEIStrategy #a11y

Inclusion starts with our everyday interactions. It was such a pleasure to speak at Basildon Borough Council's leadership conference about diversity, inclusion and disability in the workplace. I love being able to bring to life terms which could otherwise so easily be considered as a bit formal, stuffy and textbook. Being able to tell stories and paint vivid pictures in people's minds about the magic of accessibility - those stolen moments of unexpected emotion when something has been made with you in mind; that exhilarating and freeing feeling of being able to break down the barriers to being fully who you are. Feeling seen by others and not just being invited, but being celebrated for your strengths and all you have to offer. My favourite thing to do is to build empathy, helping others to see themselves in my story, because fundamentally, we're not so different. I truly believe that these experiences cut to the heart of what we all crave most in life - the feeling that we matter. #Inclusion #Accessibility #Disability #Diversity #Leadership #Blind #Speaker

“…it raises a very uncomfortable question: do we expect our diverse workforce to become like us – to assimilate? If so, then what is the point of building diversity at all?” Christina Ryan, in the always insightful monthly bulletin of Disability Leadership Institute has referenced her blog post from a few years back which still hits me now like it did then. What is the point of hiring for ‘diversity’ if we just hire disabled people then expect them to put their heads down, assimilate and struggle to work in systems, environments and ways that don’t allow them to excel? What are we gaining - certainly not fresh perspectives and certainly not access to the talent we’ve just hired. Have a read & let me know what you think! #Disability #Accessibility #Inclusion #Leadership #DisabledTalent

When we prioritize inclusion, we create a world where every person feels valued, respected and empowered to reach their full potential. #InspireU #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAction #InspirationalSpeaker #MotivationalSpeaker

🌟 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 🌟 In today's ever-evolving world, the importance of diversity and inclusivity within companies has never been more critical. Recent events have shed light on the need to address discrimination against individuals with disabilities, both inside and outside the workplace. Caroline Casey in her article emphasizes the vital role of leaders and companies in driving positive change for people with disabilities. - Leaders play a crucial role in fostering inclusivity. By championing diversity, they set a powerful example and drive cultural shifts within their organizations 🌟🌍 - To effectively combat discrimination, leaders and companies must understand universal design principles. Creating accessible products, services, and environments is a step toward a more equitable society 🛠️🌐🤝 - Embracing universal design is not only right but also good for business. Inclusive companies tend to be more innovative, attract a broader customer base, and boost employee morale and productivity 💼🚀 - The article encourages leaders to collaborate with disability advocacy groups and individuals with disabilities. This partnership leads to informed decision-making and meaningful change 🤝🧑🤝🧑🔍✨ It's a call to action for leaders and companies to actively engage with universal design principles. Let's turn the tide on discrimination and build a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, has an equal opportunity to thrive. Together, we can create more inclusive companies and a brighter future for all. 📖 Read More: https://lnkd.in/dW6mP_ZU #InclusionMatters #Leadership #UniversalDesign #DisabilityAwareness #EqualityAndDiversity #OurNormal